How to Paint a Chevron Wall

You may know that I recently redid my daughter’s bedroom. It was one of the cheapest and quickest makeovers I’ve ever done and one reason is because I didn’t repaint the room. Yay me! But I did paint a chevron pattern on one wall. The one behind her bed. She wanted a LARGE chevron pattern, which I wasn’t a big fan of at first, but I think it turned out great! And, it meant less taping for me!!

There are lots of options for painting a chevron wall, including using a stencil. If you want to go that route I’d suggest Cutting Edge Stencils. I had a good experience with their stencils when I painted my Birch Tree Wall. But I didn’t want to pay for a stencil or wait for it to arrive, so I just decided to tape it out.

1. Measure wall and plan pattern on paper

I highly recommend drawing your pattern on a piece of paper first. It doesn’t have to be perfectly to scale, but it will help with planning things, like how many chevrons, and which ones to paint. My daughter wanted thick chevrons, so I decided to do 3 chunky white chevrons across her wall. I decided to do 5 peaks so there would be a good amount of up and down action going on. If you want a less busy look, go with fewer peaks.

**You need to make a decision about how many chevrons and peaks you want ORhow thick you want the chevrons to be. The formulas will help you calculate the other.**

If you ask for help in the comments, you need to give me more info than just the length and width of your room. I need to know how many chevrons/peaks you want. You can also ask to make it look just like mine. If you only send me the dimensions, but don’t tell me what you want done with them, I will be at a loss. Thanks

How to Calculate Horizontal Grid Lines

This might be a little technical, but if you know how many chevrons you want, you can use this formula height/2x = space between horizontal lines. x = the number of chevrons. For example, if your ceiling height is 90 inches and you want 3 white chevrons, this is how far apart to draw your lines… 90/2(3) = 15. You will end up with 5 horizontal lines spaced 15 inches apart. The number of horizontal grid lines = 2x-1.

How to Calculate Vertical Grid Lines

Use the same formula to figure out how many vertical lines to draw and how far apart, but let’s use y this time. y = the number of peaks. width/2y = space between vertical lines. The number of vertical grid lines = 2y-1.

It’s not as tricky as it sounds, but feel free to ask questions in the comments. If you don’t get it, don’t feel bad, I used to be a high school math teacher.

Reader Example

Update: I was asked about a wall that is 8′ high, 150.5″ long and the reader wants 12″ wide chevrons with only 4 peaks (as opposed to my 5).

Horizontal Grid Lines

The height is easy, make lines every 12″ up the side of the wall. You’re fine if you want to stop armed with only that knowledge.

There will be 7 horizontal lines for 8 “stripes.” The formula is 96/2x = 12. We are solving for x this time because the “problem” stated that the chevrons should be 12″ thick. (So unlike the example above, the inches were given, but the # of chevrons was unknown.) x = 4 Which means there will be 4 chevrons. (There are also 4 peaks, but that is just a coincidence)

In the picture below, the lines already on the paper are the horizontal lines. Sorry if that wasn’t clear.

Vertical Grid Lines

For the requested 4 peaks, use the second formula 2y-1 = # of vertical grid lines. This formula will not tell you how many inches apart to make the marks, only how many marks you need. y= # of peaks

Fill in 4 for y… 2(4) – 1 = 7. This means you will have 7 vertical grid lines. So you need to make 7 marks along the baseboard. To space the 7 vertical lines (marks) out without using another equation, you can split the 150.5″ wall in half first (at 75 1/4″). Then split the halves in half (at about 37 1/5″ each). Finally split the quarters in half (at about 18 3/4″). This is the method you would use on paper. I didn’t measure anything when I drew my diagram, I just split the rectangle in half, then quarters, then eighths.

If you want to be more direct (or check your math), then use the formula width/2y = space between vertical lines. 150.5″/2(4) = 18 13/16 inches (which is basically 18 3/4″)

2. Draw grid on the wall

Whatever grid you came up with on paper, it’s time to transfer it to the wall. I started with the horizontal lines, but it doesn’t matter. I marked my increments in the left corner and used a level to draw a straight line all the way to the right corner. I did this with pencil. (My pictures have darker lines, I had to add these in Photoshop, because the pencil lines were not dark enough. But rest assured, the darker lines are drawn right on top of my pencil marks.) Then I drew the vertical lines by marking off my increments just above the baseboard and using a level to carry the lines all the way to the ceiling. Note: If you trust yourself you can save some time erasing later by not drawing the complete line, simply make a mark where your horizontal intercepts your vertical line. When in doubt, draw the lines all the way across.

3. Tape from corner to corner of each square

There is no need to draw the diagonal lines, just tape them off. Refer to your diagram so you know which areas to tape around. EVERY square will have an invisible diagonal line drawn through it, but sometimes you tape above the diagonal and sometimes you tape below. You tape INSIDE your background areas and OUTSIDE the areas you are going to paint white. If you mess this up, it’s not the end of the world. You’ll just have two different size chevrons. Your white portion will be smaller than your background portion. I’ve seen lots of pictures on the web where people have messed this part up and not even known it. I like to put scrap pieces of tape in the areas I’m NOT going to paint, so I can remember which area is which. Hopefully the pictures will help clarify.

If you’re wondering why there’s two different tape colors of tape on the wall, it’s just because I ran out of Frog Tape shortly after I started taping. The blue tape is 3M Edge Lock and it’s cheaper.

Tip for getting crisp corners

Go ahead and let the tape overhang while you’re taping the diagonals. It’s easy to fix in three simple steps (does anyone else watch Special Agent Oso??). Remember, you only need to trim off the inside corners. For each chevron, the inside corners are on the bottom of the upper piece of tape and the top of the lower piece. And yes, I know sentences like that never really make sense to the reader, but I had to say it.

Here’s the overlapping tape. (This doesn’t count as a step)Pull off from the wall a little bit. Make sure to keep the two pieces of tape stuck together.Trim the excess with scissors. That’s right, no razor blade needed!Then reattach tape to wall.

More tips

Don’t forget to tape off the adjacent walls so you won’t have any problem painting the corners.

To get crisp corners all the way down to the floor and ceiling, make sure you tape OVER the baseboard and ceiling.

4. Lock in the tape with paint

This step is crucial if you don’t want to do any touch-ups after you take the tape off. After you finish taping the wall, paint the INSIDE edge of the tape with the background wall color. Some of this paint will seep under the tape, but that’s okay because it’s the same color as the paint underneath it. This “locks in” the tape so none of the new color (white in my case) can seep under. Allow the background color to dry completely, then paint the chevron color as you would normally paint.

5. Paint the chevrons

This part is easy! Just make sure not to paint the areas with the scrap tape. Aren’t you glad you put them there? 🙂

6. Remove the tape

Don’t let the paint dry! Remove the tape as soon as you’re finished painting. Here’s a video I didn’t know my 6-year-old daughter was taking of me. But it sure does show you how crisp the lines look as soon as the paint comes off. http://youtu.be/6Gh3Z4SieH8

That’s it! Be sure to read about the rest of the makeover. Here’s my little videographer.It looks a lot better now, doesn’t it?

I LOVE LOVE LOVE this!!! What a beautiful room, the wall turned out great!! We are in the process of removing wallpaper from our guest bathroom and I have actually been pondering whether or not to get a chevron stencil from Cutting Edge Stencils and after seeing your work, I WISH I had the patience for doing it your way. It looks so crisp, more power to ya for having that much patience! It looks FAB!!

Aww thanks so much Marisa! It really wasn’t bad at all. I wish I had timed it, but I’d say it took about 90 minutes to draw the grid and tape it off. It’s so hard to say because my two little ones were “helping” me. Either way, stencil or tape, I think it’s a great look! Good luck!!

Thanks Trisha!! The walls are BEHR — eggshell enamel — Misty Morn #PPU12-10 and the chevron is BEHR — semi-gloss enamel – Swiss Coffee (it’s a pre-mixed shade of white at Home Depot and the same color I used for the trim throughout my house).

Hi! Looks great. I am getting ready to tape off my daughters wall today. Your tutorial is helping me. One question: I am confused about where you say to paint the tape to seal it with the background color. Her wall is grey all over now.

Hi Kim! After you put all the tap on the wall and before you paint the chevron color it’s a good idea to seal the tape to the wall. This just means to use the same gray paint to paint along the edges of the tape, a little on the tape, a little on the wall. This locks the tape down and keeps the new paint from getting under the tape. If it seems like an unnecessary extra step, trust me it’s so much better than having to touch up all the paint after you take the tape off. Does that make sense? If not, feel free to ask more questions. Good luck!

Hi I’m planning on using your tutorial to put a chevron wall in our nursery it looks so cool. But we can’t work out if you meant to leave the background colour paint to dry when you touch up the edges of the tape to prevent seepage? or whether that had to stay wet when you put the coloured paint on top? -*

Hi Lana, That’s so exciting! It’s been awhile since I decorated a nursery, lol. After you tape off the pattern, use your background color to paint over the inside edge of the tape. Yes, you need to wait for it to dry. Then paint over it with the new color. Good luck!! I’d love to see how it turns out!

I am trying to do this wall in my living room, and Its a new wall, nothing on it but the color of the sheet rock, and the were it has been mudded and sanded down. Do I have to have a back ground color or is there any way I can just do it the two colors I have picked out, because when I think about it, underneath the tape is gonna be the color of the wall? I am jus so very confused and any help or ideas would be very appriciated

I said I would :p it took us a while to get our butts into gear but when we did it was actually quite easy. would definitely recommend anyone having a go at this who’s considering it, quite simple and the results look like a pros done it lol. We did fluff up at the bottom but had taped it all up before we realised and couldn’t be bothered to rectify it lol, but it looks fine imho :p Thanks again 🙂

I am so excited to paint my chevron wall! I am just confused on how to measure my grid. The height of my wall is 94in and I would like my chevrons to look exactly like your daughters. Please help! Thanks

Awesome Kim! Let’s see… make sure you are measuring the actual wall (I didn’t include the baseboard in my measurements). If the wall really is 94″ — then divide 94 by 6 = 15.67. So use 15 11/16 or 15 5/8. It doesn’t really have to be too precise, somewhere between 15.5 and 16. Start at the bottom of the wall and measure up 15 and 5/8″. Draw a horizontal line and then measure up another 15 and 5/8″ and repeat. You’ll have 5 lines and 6 sections.

Do the same thing with the width of the wall, but divide by 10. You’ll be drawing 9 lines. Let me know if you have any more questions. Good luck!

Ha ha! I guess it didn’t mix them up then! 🙂 My wall turned out great BTW! We used a laser level and a chalk line with dust off chalk to do the lines though. I tested with pencil and it was not coming off my week old Aura paint well at all so I wasn’t going to make an entire grid of pencil I couldn’t get off. The chalk line was super easy to do, just needed two of those but my husband was happy to help.

This is the best chevron wall tutorial that I have seen. I followed your instructions precisely and my wall turned out fabulous! I have to admit, I never thought I would use algebra again after college!!!! 🙂 Thank you so much for posting this!!

Amazing tutorial – best I found online!! Tip about locking paint color in with background color was the absolute game changer. My friends thought it was a decal, it was so crisp!! THANK YOU – my daughter LOVES her newly-redone room!!

The choices are really endless. Two good options are to go with either the look I have with 3 thick “stripes” and 5 peaks or go with Kim’s thinner stripes and 4 peaks (see sketches under step 1 above). Either way I’m sure it will look great. Here are your measurements:

So I have a wall that’s 12ft 10 in wide and 7ft 9 1/2 in tall… my calculations for 3 stripes like you did are 15.58 × 15.4…. we’re all your squares perfectly square? Meaning 15×15? Or am I calculating my measurements wrong? I am a total Spazz for it being perfect, so I’d like your advice or tips before I start! Thanks 🙂

Hi Krstina, The “squares” are actually rectangles. Mine did not have the same dimensions for height and width. You also don’t have to have every rectangle EXACTLY the same. Those are pretty precise measurements and it will be very difficult to find 15.58 on a ruler. Your eyes will never know the difference if one space is 15 1/2 and another 15 3/4. Good luck!

I know this is an older post, but I came across it on a “how to paint chevrons” search. 🙂 Just finished up the small wall in my daughter’s room and it looks a-MAZE-ing! Did the math, the “paint lock in” on the tape, the bits of tape in the Do Not Paint sections…awesome tips. It was quick and painless. Thanks!

Can you tell me how to alter the formula if I don’t want as many peaks in my chevrons and I want the width of the chevron to be about 12″ instead of your 15″? It looks like you have 5 peaks, but I’m only wanting 4. My wall is 94″ high & 150.5″ wide and I’m wanting 3 rows, just like you have, but 12″ wide and only 4 peaks.

Hi Kim! Thanks for stopping by. Your horizontal lines will be every 12″ up the side of your wall. The vertical lines will be spaced 18 13/16″ along the baseboard. I included some sketches and a more detailed explanation as an update to step 1 above. Good luck! And be sure to let me know how it goes!! Thanks

Yes, it came off with a little rubbing on the gray parts. I just painted over the pencil lines in the white portion. You can definitely get away with only making one set of lines (either horizontal or vertical) and then just marking the intersection instead of making the other set of lines. Or use chalk.

What a great tutorial!! I’m so excited to do this in our babies nursery my one question is, what do you suggest if we have to paint 2 coats of the chevron pattern? Knowing our walls, they seem to always need 2-3coats. But knowing you said to take the paint off before it dries I’m curious what we should do…any tips?! THANK YOU!

Hi Heather, No problem about the 2 coats of paint. Apply the second coat a few hours after the first and you’ll be able to take the tape off the same day. It will be fine, just don’t leave the tape on there for days. You know, dry enough for a second coat isn’t the same as hardened on the wall for a week. 🙂 Good luck!

Hello! Love your tutorial! I’m getting ready to chevron a wall in my nursery and I’m trying to decide if I want to do 4 peaks or 5. I was curious how wide your wall was to get a better idea. My wall is approximately 140″ wide.

Thank you for leaving this posted! Your directions by far had all the critical points and clearly stated. The INSIDE OUTSIDE for taping was crucial and not clear or even stated in other’s postings. Your math formula helped a whole lot too. I just finished a wall in my soon to arrive grandbaby’s nursery. Thank you again! It turned out wonderfully and without frustrations! Picture here: https://flic.kr/p/DpZVbn

Hi Kathy! Thanks so much for the comment. This is definitely one of my most popular posts and I keep telling myself I should do an update of the room, but I would have to clean the heck out of it because my daughter is not the neatest of teens. lol Congratulations on the grandbaby!! I love the yellow stripe.

Hi there and thanks for such a great tutorial. I apologize in advance for the repetitive question regarding drawing the grid on paper with the calculations but I still can’t seem to draw my grid properly. Please please help. If I have 8ft in height and 12 ft long. How many chevrons and how many bases do I do along the bottom. Sooooo lost. thank you in advance.

Hi Jacqueline, sorry for the delay. I just updated the math portion of the post to clarify a few things. Let me know if it makes any more sense now. You didn’t mention how many chevrons you want or how thick, so I’m just going to assume you want it to look like mine.

For the height — you need to draw 5 horizontal grid lines starting at the corner of your wall. Space them out 16″. 96/2(3) = 16″

For the width — you will draw 9 lines starting from the baseboard. Space them out 14 3/8″

Hi Liz,
I am proud to say I did my calculations, sketched out my pattern and am ready to draw my grid , tape off my chevrons and paint. But… one last question… how did you get the pencil off the walls? Just with a damp cloth? Some other trick? Thanks for your response!

Yay Maria! I just used an eraser, but depending on your paint color you may be able to paint over the lines. Chalk works even better because you can just rub it right off. Also you really only need to mark the corners, not the whole line, so there will be less erasing. Good luck!!

What is the proper name for that style bed, please?? I’ve been looking for years for a bed frame (queen size), that has head AND foot wrap-around styling, like the one in this tutorial… with no luck. If I had the proper search term, my pursuit might eventually bear fruit! Our mattress tends to slide askew of the box spring when “someone” falls onto to bed, rather than placing themself onto the mattress.
Thank you!!!

Crazy this: Was flipping thru a warehouse bulk buy advertisement last night and saw a bedroom set called Missandrei – with “curved” head & footboards!!! But I will enjoy scrolling thru all the samples at the link you provided! I’m in the market for a light wood finish as it’s for a shore home. I really appreciate your assistance!!!

I love your tutorial but I am horrible at math and need your help if you don’t mind. The wall I need to paint is 127 inches across and 93 3/4 up and down. My daughter would like 6 peaks and 5 of the white chevrons. I started the wall and I can tell I did something wrong. Please help!

hi Liz!!!, we are moving and I was searching for a perfect way to design Leo’s new room. I saw a photo of a light blue contrast chevron design and thought it perfect for her room. Wow I did not know you has a deco site, nice! will be using your ideas.

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